Air circulator



Feb. 22, 1944. s. N. NORTH 2,342,596

AIR vCIRGULATOR Fileqsept. 22. 1942 =2 sheets-sheet 1 I/ y l i INVENTOR. :li- H E (Sa/wwwa@ 95,' @C/UC? V BY l 14%? A Tra/wwf ys Feb.22,'1944.l s. N. NORTH 2,342,596

AIR GIRCLATOR Filed Sept. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` :kif-

INVENTOR.

- man ab'. 22. 1944 UNITED` .STATES PATENT OFFICE I pplication 882132:@ No. 459,308

This invention krelates to air simulators andA more particularly-to a portable fan especially designed for use in dwellings, ofilce buildings and other places.

The object or the invention is to provides. ian

stream and in dotted lines the movement of the secondary air stream,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the deflecting cone, the top plate of the casing and guard and which will circulate a greater volume of air at less expenditure of motor energy than heretofore. 1

A further object of theinvention is to provide a Ian having a deilecting cone secured to and rotatable with the fan blades or propeller, thereby to increase the centrifugal force of the air stream and consequently impart a higher speed of travelgto the air.

A further object is to provide a circulating fan including a casing having an air duct or opening in the top thereof and communicating with the concave face of the air deilecting coneso-that, when the propeller is rotated to produce a priinary air stream, a certain amount of air above the casing will be drawn downwardly through said duct in contact with the concave face ofthe cone, thereby producing an induced or secondary air stream which merges into the primary air stream at the periphery of the casing and consequently increases the volume of air output of the fan and the distance of air travel.

A further object is to form the concave face of the cone with a plurality of radiating blades or ribs for directing Athe secondary stream lof airv into the primary stream and also to assist in Aaccelerating the movement of the combined air streams.

A further object is to provide a novel form of bearing for the revolving cone and further to provide an air deflecting guard or shield for the air opening or duct, which guard or shield also serves as a handle for lifting and carrying the fan..

A still further object oi thev invention is generally to improve this class of fans so as to increase their utility, durabiilty and eiilciency as Well as to reduce the cost of manufacture. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an air circulating fan embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view with a portion of the grill work of the casing omitted for the sake of clearness and showing in full lines the movement of theprimary air or shield detached,

Figure 4 is a side elevation illustrating a modined form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view thereof.

The improved air circulator forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a supporting frame or casing 5 including a plurality of uprights or posts 8 connected in any suitable manner by vertically spaced reinforcing bands 1, the lower end of the posts being provided with feet 8 adapted to rest on a. iloor or other suitable support. Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the outer faces of the reinforcing lbands 'I are a series of vertically disposed pickets 9 suitably spaced apart so as to form an ornamental grill for the frame work and also to permit the free ilow of air through the grill when the ian is rotated. `It will be understood, however, that any other suitable form of grill may be employed and that the invention is not limited lto the specific form shown.

Secured to the upper ends of the posts 8 by screws or similar fastening devices I I is a top or cover plate II having a centrally disposed opening orair duct I2 formed therein which communicates with the interior of the frame, as shown. Disposed above the air duct 'I2 is a shield or guard plate I3, the uppersuriace o1' which is i preferably tufted at I4 so 'as to form a seat.

interposed between the shield I3 and the cover plate II are spacing members i! dening an intermediatel air passage I6, there being bolts or similar fastening devices extending through the shield, spacing members I5 and cover I i for detachably securing the shield in position on the cover. The member I3 not onlyforms a combined air deflecting shield and seat but also forms a handle so that by inserting the lingers beneath the peripheral edge of the shield I3 the fan can be conveniently moved from place to place.

Arranged centrally. within the supporting frame is an electric motor I1 having a vertically disposed `shaft I8 adapted to detachably receive the hub- I 9 of a ian o r'propeller 20, said hub being fastened .to the shaft to turn therewith by means of a clamping screw 2|. The electric motor I1 may be secured in position in any suitable manner but it is preferred to provide the motor casing with angular suspension brackets 22 which engage corresponding brackets 23 sel Disposed above the fan blades .or propeller 20 and rotatable therewith is a deflecting cone 25. This deecting cone 25 may be constructed of metal or molded or otherwise formed from plastic material, said cone having its concave face'disposed beneath and spaced from the air duct I2 and its lower end formed with a hollow depending extension 26, the bottom of which is provided with an opening 21 for the reception of the shaft I8. Fitting snugly within the depending extension 26 is a bushing 28 through which the fan shaft I8 passes, there being a clamping screw 29 extending through the member 23 and bushing 28 and bearing against the shaft I8 for keying the cone to the shaft and causing it to rotate therewith. The outer edge of the cone 25 preferably terminates in spaced relation to the posts 6 and welded or otherwise secured to the concave face of the cone 25 are a plurality of downwardly 1tapered blades or ribs 30 for the purpose of accelerating movement of the air when the fan is in operation. When the cone 25 is formed of plastic materialthese ribs 30 will be pressed upwardly from the body of the cone. are preferably curved at 3I and project slightly above the outer edge of said cone so as to direct theai'x` outwardly through the fan grill. The air circulator is provided with a suitable hand operated-switch 32 operatively connected with the motor I1 for controlling the flow of current to said motor.

When current is supplied to the motor I1, the propeller 20 will draw air through the grill of the supporting frame and force the air upwardly against the convex surface of the cone 25 to form a primary air stream, said air stream being deflected outwardly by the cone and thence through the upper portion of the grill so as to thoroughly circulate the air in a room or other enclosure. As the fan and cone rotate as a unit, an induced or secondary air stream will be drawn inwardly through the passage I6 and downwardly through the vent I2 against the concave face of the cone 25, the ribs 30 serving to accelerate the movement of the air and direct the air outwardly by centrifugal force where it merges with the primary air stream and is discharged through the upper portion of the grill, as stated.

lIn order to assemble the fan, it is merely necessary to t the fan hub over the shaft I3 and secure the same by the screw 2l, after which the cone 25 with the bushing 28 disposed within previously the extension 26 is fitted over the upper end of the shaft IB and keyed thereto by tightening the screw 29. The cover II with the guard plate I3 thereon is then fastened to the upper ends of the posts I 6 by thel fastening devices I0. The parts may be readily disconnected by reversing this operation so as to permit any repairs thereto when necessary.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawingsmthere is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the electric motor 33 is disposed above the air deilecting cone 34 instead of below the same. In this form of the invention the motor is preferably suspended from the guard or shield 35 by means of bolts 33 surrounded by cushioning sleeves 31, the constructionand operation of the device Abeing otherwise similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. It

' will, of course, be understood that the fan motor -may be arranged either above or belowl the cone without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will also be understood that the air circulators may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I y

1f. An air circulator including a casing, a propeller mounted for rotation withinthe casing, and an air deflecting cone disposed above and spaced vertically from the propeller and mounted for rotation therewith.

2. An air circulator including a frame, a grill secured toand surrounding the frame, a propeller mounted for rotation within the frame, and an inverted cone disposed above and spaced vertically from thepropeller and mounted for rotation therewith for deilecting the air stream from the propeller against the convex face of the cone4 and thence outwardly through said grill.'

3. An air circulator including a casing, a propeller mounted for rotation withinthe casing and including a motor and driving shaft, an inverted cone disposed above and spaced vertically from The outer or wide ends of the blades the propeller and mounted for rotation therewith, said cone being provided with a hollow depending extension fitting over the driving shaft, a bushing fitting within the hollow extension, and a fastening device extending through the hollow extension and bushing and engaging the driving shaft, the convex face' of the cone serving to deflect the air stream from the propeller outwardly through'said casing.

' 4. An air circulator including a casing having an airduct in the top'thereof, a shield fitted over and spaced from the air duct, a propeller mounted for rotation within the casing, a cone disposed above and mounted for rotation with the 'propeller for directing a primary air lstream from said propeller outwardly through the casing, the rotation of said cone serving to set up an induced secondary air stream through the air duct and deflect the same outwardly through the casing.`

mary air stream outwardly through the casing,

and radiating blades secured to the concave side of the cone for producing an induced secondary air stream through lthe air duct merging with the primary air stream adjacent the inner wall of said casing.

6. An air circulator including a casing having a top provided with a centrally disposed air duct, a shield secured to and spaced from the top of the casing at said air duct and constituting a combined seat and hand grip, a propeller mounted for rotation within the casing for producing a primary air stream, a cone disposed above and mounted for rotation with the propeller for deflecting the primary air stream outwardly through the casing near the top thereof, and radiating blades secured to the concave side of the cone for setting up a secondary air stream through ing and secured to said uprights, a cover for the.

casing secured to the uprights and provided with 'a plurality of radially disposed upstanding blades secured to the concave side ot the cone at the periphery thereof and having their inner ends spaced from the hollow extension.

8. 'A portable air circulator comprising a casing including a top having an air vent formed therein, an electric motor including an upright drive shaft disposed within the casing, a propeller keyed to the driving shaft, a shield disposed above the air duct and spaced from the top of the casing to form a passage, spacing members interposed between the shield and top of the casing, fastening devices extending through said spacing members and engaging the top of said casing, the rim of said shield forming a-carrier handle, a cone disposed below the air duct and provided with a v depressed hollow extension iitting over the adjacent end of the driving shaft and secured thereto for rotation therewith, the outer edge of said cone being spaced from the inner wall of the casing and the concave side thereof provided with spaced radiating blades having their outer ends curved and their rear ends tapered toward the hollow extension 'and terminating short thereof.

SAMUEL N.V NORTH. 

